Established in 1949 in Hempstead, New York by the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood, New York, Sacred Heart Academy is a Catholic college-preparatory school whose singular purpose is to educate young women who have strong academic and leadership potential. Sacred Heart Academy empowers young women to make a difference in their communities, professions, the Church and the global world. Students are empowered by academic excellence, which are both an expectation and an aspiration.

The mission of Sacred Heart Academy is to empower by learning, impassion by legacy, and inspire by inclusive love. Sister Karen Burke, CSJ, taught the mission to a group of rising sophomores and related the mission to leadership in the real world.

14 of Sacred Heart Academy's rising Sophomores got the chance to learn what it means to be a leader from professionals in different industries during the inaugural Emerging Leaders Institute. They visited the Nassau County Courthouse, ESPN Radio, National Grid, and Northwell Health.